Piano scale



Sept. 4, 1934. p. H BlLHUBER 1,972,511

` PIANQ SCALE Filed Dec. 14, 1953 Patented Sept., 4, 1934 het imi!

PATENF' @FFii PHANO SCALE tion of New York Application December 14, 1933, Serial No. 702,329

Claims.

This invention relates to piano scales, and has for its object to provide a duplex scale which has the capability of being very accurately placed and adjusted as to height position. This accuracy 5 of positioning improves overtones or upper partiais and results in less dampening of vibration of the strings. The invention also has superior advantages over the cast form of duplex scale now used.

To accomplish its purpose the duplex scale of the present invention comprises sharp edges which are presented to the strings passing over the same, which edges may be raised or lowered in respect to the support on which the edges rest.

l5 Embodiments of the invention enable a ready and convenient adjustment of the string height for general adjustments, and a ready adjustment in respect to the sound board.

The invention will be more fully described,

2O embodiments thereof shown in the drawing, and the invention will be finally set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the string support in which my improved scale is installed;

Figure 2 is a plan View of one embodiment of my invention, showing several strings passing over the scale;

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2, taken on line 3-3 thereof;

Figure 4 is a similar section of another embodiment;

Figure 5 is a Section similar to Figure 3, showing another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 'l is a front view of still another embodiment; and

4o Figure 8 is a perspective of another embodiment.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the various views.

Referring to Figure 1, the sound board 10 supports the bridge l1, over which strings 12 of the piano pass. These strings are connected at one end to hitch pins 13 and at the other end to tuning pins 14. The latter, upon turning, loosen or tighten the strings. The front scale 15 and the capotasto bar 16 contact with the strings in the usual manner, these parts being well known.

The improved scale of the present invention is shown at 20, placed on the string plate 17 and located between the bridge 1l and the hitch pins 13. It will be noted that the improved scale 20 (Cl. Sil- 188) occupies the position in which the duplex or rear scale is ordinarily placed and it may be said that in the modification illustrated by Figure l, the present scale takes the place of and performs the functions of a rear scale in addition to its novel and patentable features as hereinafter set forth.

The improved scale 20, shown in plan View in Fig. 2, comprises a base 2l and bent up portions 22, integral with the base 21. The bent up portions 22 are provided with an edge 23, which is 65 substantially a knife edge. The strings supported by the scale pass at right angles to the edge 23. This knife edge may be adjusted in order to raise or lower the same, a higher position being shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

rEhe scale 2G may be made from one piece, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. In such case the bent up portions 22 may be formed when the base portion 2l is stamped, by stamping portions 22 away from the base 21 on three sides and at the 75 same time bending them to approximately the correct angle with respect to the base 21. By the use of proper stamping tools, the portion 22 may be automatically provided with the knife edge 23, and the scale thus produced in one operation. In Figures 2 and 3, the portion 22 is shown as being directed from left to right, but it can also be directed from right to left, as shown in Figure 4. Instead of using the ruptured edge to contact with the strings as in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the bent 85 up portion 22 may be itself bent to form a knife edge, as shown in Figure 5, the arms 24 and 25 forming therebetween the knife edge 26.

Instead of having the upraised portion stamped from the base, it may be independent thereof, in 0 which case it may consist of a member 27 bent upon itself, and in which one leg 28 serves as a base, and the other leg 29 serves as the upwardly extending portion having the knife edge 30.

Finally another embodiment of the invention shows that the sides need not be parallel as depicted in Fig. 2, but may be curved or inclined as shown in Figure "l, which feature adds to the inherent resiliency of the knife edge. The lateral curved portions 31 present to the strings a larger knife edge 32.

The scale, if stamped into one piece, or the bent portion 27, if constructed in accordance with the modification shown in Fig. 6, is constructed of metal of such character and thickness whereby the portions 22, or 29, will remain in position notwithstanding the pressure exerted by the strings, and will also be capable of being raised or lowered, to raise or lower the edges contacting with the strings, by means of a force greater than pressure of the strings.

The scale 20, or portions 27, as the case may be, may be made of bronze, brass, and other alloys, such as Monel metal, or plated steel, preferably chromium plated steel, as I have found them to be satisfactory for use.

As illustrated herein, the present improved scale is shown as used in the rear position adjacent the hitch pins. By means easily understood from the above description, the present improved scale may be used in the front position, adjacent the capotasto bar. in such an arrangement the improved scale would tal e the place of the front scale l5, in Figure 1. This arrangement could be used instead of that shown in Figure l, or the improved scale could be used in both front and rear positions. When the improved scale is used in the front position, the angle of the strings in the horizontal plane with reference to the capo dastro bar can be adjusted and controlled in addition to any adjustment afforded by a scale in the rear position. I

Also, heretofore, when a sound-board had gone down or sunk relatively to its initial position, it was necessary to lowerthe string frame, or to remove the heavy string frame and make readjustment or restoration or" the same to bring about the original angle madeby the strings as they pass over the bridge. With this invention, it is not necessary to remove the piano frame, as the scale is adjusted in height to compensate for the sound board position. The embodiment can be so made as to be a continuous arrangement so that it'can be placed at such parts of the piano where heretofore a duplex scale had not been used. An embodiment showing an elongated scale adapted for this purpose is shown in Figure 8. Thereby all the advantages of a scale rib that can be adjusted for height in relation to the height of the bridge are obtained.

VThe improved scale is extremely accurate in its dimensions and it can be accurately placed or positioned. The improved scale corresponds or conforms to the niveau or level of the supporting structure or string frame, whereby a firm contact with the string frame for each note is obtained. The improved scale may be readily adjusted to the irregularities-ofthe string frame.

` l'tY also enables a speedy and convenient adjustment of the string height at the point where the string crosses the scale in respect to the height of the string on the sound board bridge. It also provides a control of the pressurerexerted upon v the sound board bridge, which pressure is caused by the strings under tension running at a downward angle from the bridge to the duplex scale. It also enables the angle of the strings passing over the sound board bridge to be readily contracted as hereinbefore pointed out. The sharpness of edge andthe accuracy of the new scale enables one to secure a more accurate vibrational response from the strings. Also, the height ad justment gives a control over the pressure on the sound board, made more or less by adjustment.

The present invention thus affords a new and improved scale which may be easily made in one operation and which also aiords means for quickly and easily adjusting the position of the strings generally, and with reference to the sound board when such adjustment is necessary.

My invention has been illustrated and described with some degree of particularity, but it is understood that changes may be in the form of details and in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A scale comprising a base and sharp stringsupporting edges mounted thereon c pable or being moved with respect to the base only by a force greater than that ordinarily exerted by strings pressing on said edges, said edges each having a length slightly greater than the space occupied by either single or groups of strings comprising each tone.

2. A scale comprising a base having a piece of fiat relatively thin metal joined thereto along an edge and mounted at an angle to the base, the said metal piece being provided with a sharp string-supporting edge and bendable with respect to the said base only by a force greater than that ordinarily exerted by strings pressing on said edge and said metal piece having a width slightly greater than the space occupied by either single or groups of strings comprising each tone.

3. A scale for individual tones or fractional tones of a piano or pianoforte comprising a fiat relatively thin piece of metal having a portion stamped therefrom and bent at an angle to the said piece of metal along an unsevered enge, the said stamped portion presenting a sharp stringsupporting edge parallel to the said piece of metal.

4. A scale for individual tones or fractional tones of a piano or pianoforte comprising a flat relatively thin piece of metal having a portion stamped therefrom and bent at an angle to the said piece of metal along an unsevered edge, the said stamped portion presenting a sharp stringsupporting edge parallel to the saidpiece of metal, and being bendable with respect to the said piece of metal only by a force greater than that ordinarily exerted by strings pressing on said edge.

5. A scale for individual tones or fractional tones of a piano or pianoforte consisting of a at relatively thin piece of metal having rectangular portions stamped therefrom on three sides and bent at an angle to thesaid piece of metal along the unsevered edges, the said stamped portions presenting sharp string-supporting edges parallel to the said piece of metal.

PAUL H. BILHUBER. 

